The Israeli army has not confirmed the start of a ground operation in the Gaza Strip
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues for the third day in a row. The parties exchange rocket attacks, the Israeli army used more than 160 aircraft and artillery to attack Hamas positions. There is no ground invasion of the Gaza Strip yet, although the IDF has previously announced " ground and air strikes." In three days, at least 1,800 rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, Tel Aviv said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacks the positions of the Palestinian group Hamas with the help of air forces and artillery. The IDF infantry did not enter the territory of Gaza. This is reported by the newspaper Haaretz with reference to the statement of the Israeli military.
More than 160 aircraft and artillery units were used to attack the Gaza Strip. A full-scale ground invasion is not taking place "at the moment," the IDF press service stressed by the morning of May 14. Civilians were urged to stay in shelters and not leave safe places.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Hamas must pay a heavy price for its actions. "The last word has not been said, and this operation will continue for as long as it takes," the Israeli prime minister said.
According to the latest data, Tel Aviv has mobilized 14 thousand reservists for a possible ground operation. Israeli Defense Minister Beni Gantz said that the IDF will continue to launch rocket and artillery strikes on the targets of the Palestinian group Hamas "until complete silence".
The British TV channel Sky News Arabia reported shortly after midnight that the IDF was using phosphorous ammunition, and most areas of the Gaza Strip remained de-energized.
The Palestinian group Hamas this night (around 2 o'clock Moscow time) launched 150 rockets in the direction of the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. Hamas called the strikes a response to " the deaths of civilians and fighters of the movement, as well as the destruction of infrastructure in the sector."
The escalation in the Gaza Strip began on May 11. The reason for the escalation was the riots at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where more than 700 Palestinians were injured. The Israeli authorities decided to prevent Muslims from entering the Temple Mount during the Jerusalem Day procession.
The attacks from the Gaza Strip have become a serious test for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. Despite its close proximity to technical perfection, it failed to intercept all the missiles, which led to the death and injury of Israeli citizens. Palestinian rockets exploded in peaceful streets.
Ivan Zhukovsky
